Chapter 6
HONEY
Even though I’ve been to Bumblebee Beauty Salon several times and now consider Baylee Reyes a friend, old habits die hard. As my brother pointed out, because Baylee’s engaged to Maverick Walker, this is squarely enemy territory.
McAllisters are supposed to go to Darling Divas, but last year they double-booked me, and I decided to toss caution to the wind and check out Baylee’s salon. I’ve been secretly coming here ever since.
I glance up and down the street to make sure I’m not being trailed by anyone.
God, that sounds paranoid.
I rub my temple. Screw it. Screw my father’s trust and all of his demands.
Thinking about it has been making me sick to my stomach. But since I pay for my own stuff now, I’m going to get some highlights. Apparently, frivolous girls like me need them.
Feeling cautious, like I’m going to run into one of my father’s spies, I open the door and peek in. Baylee waves me in. “Honey! Just in time. My mom brought us some homemade sopapillas. You have to try one.”
It’s late. I’m probably her last client for the day, so there aren’t a lot of people. Just one other client who’s getting a trim from Vera, the other stylist. And there’s Baylee’s mom Sylvia, and Paige, Baylee’s best friend, who’s also married to a Walker.
“Hi, Mrs. Reyes. These smell amazing,” I say as I hug Baylee and Paige, whose red hair looks adorable in a messy bun.
“Please, dear, call me Sylvia. ‘Mrs. Reyes’ makes me feel old.” She motions to the mountain of food. “Help yourselves. Sopapillas are fried dough with cinnamon and powdered sugar. You should enjoy them with a little honey. It’s in the dish there.”
My mouth waters as I stare at the food. “Thank you. They look delicious.” I take one, drizzle honey on it, and take a tiny bite. Flavor instantly bursts on my tongue, and I moan. “Oh my God. Wow, this is good.”
A male voice clears his throat, and I jump, nearly dropping my snack.
Beau’s standing behind me with Baylee’s son Leo in his arms. Leo is maybe ten months old and blond like his father, Baylee’s ex, but he looks right at home with Beau.
His co-worker walks in behind him. I think her name is Melissa.
Beau tickles Leo. “We played with the kittens, and I showed him the fire truck.” Does he have to look so damn sexy holding a kid?
“Fruck,” Leo says, lifting his arms into the air.
We all chuckle.
Moving closer, Melissa brushes Leo’s hair out of his face. “This kid is so cute, isn’t he, Beau?”
Are they dating?
They’re picture-perfect—Beau, Melissa, and the baby. Watching them together makes it hard to breathe for some reason.
Beau tosses Leo into the air, making him squeal with laughter, before he hands the baby to Baylee and shoves his hands in his pockets. “I heard there were sopapillas.”
Sylvia rushes over with another platter. “Here. Share these with the fire station. Don’t forget to drizzle everything with honey. Tastes better that way.”
His green eyes meet mine, and for a brief second, I forget that he’s a Walker. That he’s the enemy. That my brothers would kill him if they ever found out we almost hooked up.
I’ve been thinking about what Beau said, that he didn’t jump my brothers. And his eye is still purple. Does he really think I instigated that fight?
Sylvia hums and then reaches up to touch his face. “That eye is looking better.” I stare at the floor, but for a second, I can feel everyone’s attention. I brace myself to get kicked out, but Sylvia asks Beau if he’s been using the salve she made him.
“He has.” Mel grabs his arm. Based on the way she stares up at him, all doe-eyed and needy, I can do the math. They’ve slept together.
Beau clears his throat again. “Yes, ma’am.
Thank you for the salve and the food.” He leans down and kisses Sylvia on the cheek before he and Melissa leave.
I get a whiff of his sexy cologne, and it takes me back to that night seven years ago.
For a quick moment, I think about how he held me. How he touched me. How he kissed me.
How the scruff on his rugged jaw felt against my neck.
And then I remind myself that it never would’ve happened had he known it was me.
Not to mention how pissed he was when he found out, dumped my ass on the couch, and stormed off.
As I watch them walk by the big plate-glass window, Melissa looks over at me and smirks.
I know that look. It’s the expression of victory a woman gets in her eyes when she’s slept with a man and considers him hers.
Like a smoldering coal, jealousy gnaws at me.
Annoyed with myself for caring, I turn away. She can keep him.
Maybe I shouldn’t feel bad my brother gave Beau a black eye.
Seriously, why am I wasting time feeling anything for that asshole? In the seven years since it happened, did he ever seek me out and try to have a genuine conversation? Did he ever apologize for being a royal dick? No, he only approaches me when we’re around other people. Where it’s safe.
And I’m so damn tired of playing it safe.
“Oh, you’re going to drip, Honey.” Baylee hands me a napkin.
“Thank you. Sorry.” I shove the sopapilla in my mouth because I get the feeling she wants to ask me about Beau.
Half an hour later, after we’ve stuffed our faces and Paige, Sylvia, and Leo have left, it’s just me and Baylee. Her mom lives in the casita behind their farm and watches Leo when Baylee works. It makes me jealous. I can’t envision a world where my family would help me like that.
“You’re quiet tonight,” Baylee says as she sections off my hair.
“It’s been a bad week,” I admit as I stare at my reflection.
Who am I if not a McAllister? If my father disowns me because I don’t marry a man of his choosing, does that mean I’m not welcome at the ranch?
That land, those hills and valleys and all of the animals we raise, feels like my heart and soul.
I swallow back the emotion that wells in the back of my throat when I think of losing my birthright.
“What’s going on?” I’m quiet a long stretch when she pauses. “You don’t need to tell me if you’re not comfortable.”
“My father says I have to date this rancher. Some guy from East Texas with a huge ranch.”
“Is that bad? Is he a troll?”
I shrug. “Not sure.” I’m too embarrassed to explain the rest, that my father expects me to marry the guy.
Because who does that in this day and age?
But a little piece of the truth slips out.
“He’s dangling my trust fund in front of me.
So if I don’t do what he wants, it’s possible he’ll disinherit me.
” Or refuse to help me fund my club. Maybe both.
“Are you serious?” She puts down her comb and comes around and grabs my hand. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m hoping I’ll be able to talk my dad into changing his mind. He’s always been a hardass. He was really tough on my brothers.” That’s probably why they come off as jerks, because they learned everything from my father. “But what if I can’t?”
Baylee hums. “How are you doing financially? Because I know they don’t pay you much at the high school. Maverick coaches because he loves it, not because of what they pay him.”
“Not great. I have some credit card debt, and a million repairs I need to make on my house.” I’ll admit it took me a minute after I graduated from college to figure out I needed to lower my standard of living.
I had to cut back on coffee runs and lunch outings.
I couldn’t buy designer clothes anymore.
The one splurge I’ve kept is doing my hair because it makes me feel good about myself.
And despite my father’s accusations, I pay for it myself.
“I thought you were renting.”
“I am, but my place needs a lot of work.”
She grabs her comb and starts working on my hair again. “Your landlord should cover those repairs.”
“She’s on a fixed income, so I don’t think she can afford to do that. I was just excited to get something so close to the school. I’m right up against the back lot.”
“That is convenient.” As Baylee starts to foil my hair, she frowns. “This is off topic, but I wanted to ask you something. I know you’ll probably catch a lot of flak for this. I hope you’ll say yes, but I want you to know it’s okay to decline.”
“What is it?” I chuckle because the suspense is killing me.
“I would love for you to be one of my bridesmaids.”
No one’s ever asked me to be in their wedding. “I’d be honored.” I jump out of the chair and hug her. “But will this be weird for you? I’m the enemy.”
She laughs. “No, you’re not. You’re the best, and I’m so glad we’ve become friends. This rivalry is stupid, and I don’t want it to prevent someone who’s become a dear friend from being in my wedding.”
“Will Maverick mind?” I see him around the school, but we don’t really talk.
“He’ll be happy if I’m happy. But what about you? Will this flip out your father?”
Will my dad lose his shit? Probably. Do I care? Why should I, considering how he treats me? “It’ll be fine, but I can only do this if you’re sure me being in your wedding won’t cause you any trouble.”
“It won’t. Now sit so I can finish your highlights.”
For the first time since that conversation with my father, a genuine smile tilts my lips.
I’d love to be in Baylee’s wedding.
As long as I don’t have to spend time with Beau.